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Monday, January 12, 2015

When Broken Becomes Beautiful

Broken.There is something about seeing something broken and abandoned that fills our heart with a sense of hopelessness.It is sad to us because we all know at one time, that whatever we see as now broken, was at one time in good repair. It was useful and valued by someone and that status changed somewhere along the way.We feel this sense of hopelessness when we see broken items along the road or beside a dumpster. (See Nothing is Wasted: Click Here)We feel this sense of hopelessness when we see people who seemed to have lost all self respect and sense of self value. (So close but lame: Click Here)We can even feel this a bit when we pass by an old house that we grew up in or by a place that we used to spend adventure times as kids and now see the building has been torn down or changed in some drastic way.This year, the Lord has put on my heart to blog about barriers and overcoming them with His presence. I truly believe that this is a year for many of His children to finally overcome some of the barriers that have stopped us cold in the last year(s), and this in fact is the year for us to see God do some "Impossible" things for us!In the last two posts, (Life Between the Chapters: Click Here) and (What to do when the water parts: Click Here), we looked at starting this year with an understanding of just what God is able to do in our lives and it is very hopeful indeed!This morning I was reading in the book of Nehemiah and I came across a very interesting passage because it speaks to those of us who feel or who have felt hopelessness because of a circumstance, dream or relationship that seems by all appearances to be broken or impossible to achieve. A broken circumstance can be a tremendous barrier that stands between us and where God seems to be leading us in life and this morning I would like to show you how this passage speaks LIFE into what is broken and chases hopelessness away with hope!"...will they revive the stones out of the heaps of the rubbish which are burned?" ~ Nehemiah 4:2Nehemiah’s name means, “The comfort of God”. This is beautiful in and of itself and we are going to see just why in a few minutes.

COMFORT: 1) Relief from Distress. 2) One that comforts. 3) A state of, or thing that provides, ease and quiet enjoyment.

The City of Jerusalem had been laid to waste and taken into Babylonian captivity just as it had been prophesied, and God’s judgment did indeed fall. This was a God allowed and timed event that had taken place and if you were left amid the rubble, you would have looked around at ruin and bitter tears.

The city is in ruins, the once mighty walls are destroyed and the at one time majestic gates have been burnt with fire. The glory is removed and amid the rubble are a few remaining ragamuffin people who have been reduced to the brunt of every joke that comes from the kingdoms that surround them.

The crème of the crop had been carried off against their will long ago and this was now a time of tears. There had been two previous attempts between the exile and this point to rebuild and restore the city, but both had reached a point where the plug had been pulled. Then seemingly out of nowhere the comfort of God shows up literally in the form of Nehemiah.

Names are very important and the worst thing that you can ever do in your life is disregard the names that God surrounds you with.

Nehemiah is not a prophet or a priest contrary to popular belief. He is simply a man that has surrendered his destiny to God.

He is a cup bearer in the palace. Think about that for just a minute. He had a TERRIBLE job. Every meal the king ate, Nehemiah had to eat first to ensure the king was not poisoned. Can you see everyone in the king's court holding their breath with anticipation each time this guy took a bite? Talk about a stress full job!!!The kings that conquered Israel unknowingly served God’s purpose and I find it interesting that this king has had the “Comfort of God” in his presence every day.

Nehemiah has been given, by God, the favor with the occupying King to such a level that he has been allowed to re-build the walls to the city of Jerusalem.

That work is completed in 52 days in spite of tremendous opposition and there is no doubt to the people and those that surrounded them that God performed this. While Nehemiah and his crew are busy repairing his hometown walls to their former splendor, two of his enemies from rival kingdoms come forward and mock him and what he feels that God would have him to accomplish. Notice what they say!"...will they revive the stones out of the heaps of the rubbish which are burned?" ~ Nehemiah 4:2Remember the once glorious walls of Jerusalem that David sang about? Nebucanezzar blew in and had his men burn them to the ground, and then forced the slaves not taken back to his palace grind up the rocks to gravel. These walls were never going to be sang about again.Have you ever felt that way about something in your life, broken beyond repair and certainly NEVER a hope of things being again what they once were?You do not need anyone to raise the question that was raised to Nehemiah because you ask yourself the question every time you slow up enough to allow yourself to reflect on the way that things are..

"...will they revive the stones out of the heaps of the rubbish which are burned?" ~ Nehemiah 4:2

Plans, dreams, relationships and goals can seem to be so fragile sometimes can't they?I read this question and before Nehemiah could even answer, my Spirit answered for him.No Nehemiah, you can't revive stones out of rubbish or rebuild glorious city gates out of charred timber.No you cannot re-build a life of function out of a destroyed mindset, or raise up strength from weakness. You cannot gain back a life of beauty from one that has been scarred by abuse or addiction.You cannot repair trust after a crippling blow. You cannot bring a dream to life that lies in a heap and shattered hope is hope that you cannot repair.No Nehemiah, you cannot revive stones out of the heaps of rubbish.You cannot do any of these things, but God can!!!52 days after this statement is mockingly asked, a wall stood where rubbish once laid.The rubble was always intended to be repaired as a symbol of God's power and what faith can accomplish. People were created to be free from addiction, lust, violence, greed and weak slave like mindsets. Relationships were intended to be based upon God and thrive.Hope and comfort were given so that hope and comfort could be shared."Who comforteth us in all our tribulation, that we may be able to comfort them which are in any trouble, by the comfort wherewith we ourselves are comforted of God." ~ 2 Corinthians 1:4

"The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly.I am the good shepherd: the good shepherd giveth his life for the sheep." ~ John 10:10-11I had said earlier that I answered the question before Nehemiah could and I was wrong. Nehemiah had answered the question before it was ever asked.

"That Hanani, one of my brethren, came, he and certain men of Judah; and I asked them concerning the Jews that had escaped, which were left of the captivity, and concerning Jerusalem. And they said unto me, The remnant that are left of the captivity there in the province are in great affliction and reproach: the wall of Jerusalem also is broken down, and the gates thereof are burned with fire. And it came to pass, when I heard these words, that I sat down and wept, and mourned certain days, and fasted, and prayed before the God of heaven" ~ Nehemiah 1:2-4

"And I arose in the night, I and some few men with me; neither told I any man what my God had put in my heart to do at Jerusalem..." ~ Nehemiah 2:12

God put the desire in Nehemiah's heart and that was enough. What has God placed in your heart to build from a state of non-existence? What dream has He placed within your spirit?It matters not what the circumstances seem to appear to be, stand IN Him and begin to ask Him for the next steps and take them. You are His child and you have His favor. Move in that today and speak LIFE into the heaps of rubbish that stand in the way of your dream!!! God gives you your dreams for a reason, He wants you to be a part of the process of bringing that dream to life WITH Him!

"If you want a thing bad enough to go out and fight for it, to work day and night for it, to give up your time your peace and your sleep for it.

If all that you dream and scheme is about it and life seems useless and worthless without it and if you gladly sweat for and fret for and plan for and loose all your terror of the opposition for it and if you simply go after that thing that you want with all of your capacity, strength and sagacity, faith, hope, confidence and stern pertinacity. If neither cold or poverty, famish or gout, sickness or pain of body and brain can keep you away from the thing that you want, if dogged and grim you besiege and beget it with the help of GOD you will get it." ~ Les Brown

Don't give up at the initial prognosis that "It's over" or "It cannot be done".This past summer, I looked back at the different mail that the blog has received and the overall thread of content and saw an overwhelming theme. Christians seem to feel as though God loves them, but just does not like them very much. I felt that way for the majority of my christian life and I strived to be busy enough to keep Him content with my productivity. My value to God's kingdom was based on my level of service, commitment and performance. I asked God to show me what relationship with Him truly looked like and He opened the Song of Solomon to my heart and showed me what that relationship truly looks like. I felt compelled to write this out into a very unique 90 day devotional that truly ignites the believers heart into a dynamic love relationship with God.I believe that identity will always bring purpose and the reason that so many believers wander around without an idea of their true purpose is because they don't fully grasp their identity In and TO Christ.I finished the book this past December and began to ask His leading in getting this book published. God directed to a publisher who I believe He would have me use. The cost to publish the book seemed too large for a single income household to generate, but I believe that God can raise this amount out of nothing and that He wants this message of the believers identity to reach His children. I'm calling out to you as the readers of this blog to help build something that gives out God's strength and comfort to those who feel that their relationship with the King is broken beyond repair.The daily devotional / Journal book is entitled, "Love Letters from a Desiring God" and what makes this book unique is that the reader of this book discovers that the main character has fallen in love with them while they read it. The writing of this book has changed me. It has changed my understanding of God and restored my confidence in my relationship with Him and I know that it will change the heart of the one who feels distant from God. This needs to get out!I have never done this before but I do know that there are people who are looking for ways to be involved in projects like this so if that's you, here are three possible ways that you can help.I would ask that you help by praying for two things with me.1) Pray for those who will be reading this book when it is released that God would use this as a tool to open their eyes to His active and passionate pursuit of their heart. (You can pray for that right now!)

2) If this looks like something you would like to be a part of seeing developed, you can contact me at : themanandthewall@gmail.com. I would love to tell you a few of the ways that you can help and I love mail!This was something on my heart that God is doing with me and the things that He is lifting out of scripture for me have been revolving around encouraging the dreams that God has given us to see accomplished in this new year. Keep dreaming and keep walking in that dream!Climbing with you,~Dan